MEDFORD, Ore. -- Funeral arrangements for two Medford firefighters killed in an off-duty accident are tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday.
51-year-old John R. Wells had worked for the Medford Fire Department for 15 years.
He is survived by a wife and a college-aged daughter.
Engineer Gale C. Gurr, 37, had been with the Medford Fire Department for nine years and leaves behind a wife and two young girls.
The firefighters had gone out for an ATV ride Thursday afternoon near John's Peak.
They were only supposed to be gone for three hours and when they didn't return a search was launched by friends and family.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office then joined in on the search that went through the night.
It wasn't until Friday morning that families and friends received the devastating news.
Searchers were optimistic Friday Morning as they looked for two longtime Medford firefighters.
"We know they're out there, we know we're going to find them," said longtime friend Mark Burns.
John Wells and Gale Gurr had gone out in the John's Peak area Thursday on a new two-seater RZR ATV.
Hundreds of searchers from all over Southern Oregon, including fellow firefighters, hoped the two may simply have run out of gas or lost their way.
As five helicopters were sent out, hope soon turned to suspicion that something was wrong.
"We had a feeling we knew we had a problem looking the road systems knowing the guys are firefighters know they're fit firefighters," said Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters.
Shortly after 9 a.m. they received word of a possible sighting. A helicopter flown by two firefighters from Fire District 3, were sent to the Forest Creek Road drainage area where the men's bodies were found, nearly 2,000 feet down an embankment.
"It appears they were climbing that embankment and got to the top and had to turn out and then the vehicle went end over end back down to the bottom before striking a tree," said Winters.
Officials say the remains were transported to a funeral home in Medford. The start of a long grieving process for family and friends.
"That's our number one thing we're after right now, anything the spouse and family needs for both of these firefighters we'll do the best we can to take care of them," said Medford Fire Chief Dave Bierwiler.
Chief Bierwiler said they held a counseling session for Medford firefighters Friday morning and plan to hold more sessions in the next few days. Firefighters from throughout the state are coming to Medford to help out.
As for the funeral, he says it's up to the families to decide if they'd like to have private services or a firefighter procession.
If you're interested in helping firefighter's families and fellow emergency responders, the Medford Fire Department says the best thing to do is contact the Medford Firefighters Association or send a donation to:
Medford Fire Fighters Association
P.O. Box 1202
Medford, OR 97501
